Sound-box.



J. G. ENGLISH.

SOUND BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IBB.8. 191( 1,001,746. Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

(JO/21? GTE/7944f [5, ATTORNEY J. G. ENGLISH.

sown BOX. 7 APPLICATION FILED FEB.8, 1910.

- 1,001,746. Patented Augm29,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WITNESSES @aza hw m/fif ATTORNEY H allwhom it may cdncern."

. new and useful JOHN C. ENGLISH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOB TO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ENGLISH, a

States, and 'a resident State of New Jersey,

Improvements in Soundof. which the following is a full,

Borges, v

and exact disclosure, reference being clear,

' had to theaccompanying drawings, form- This invention relates to inga Part of the following specification.

certain new and useful improvements in sound boxes for talking machines,

the appended claims; 7 p In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 fis a front elevation of a sound'box conmodified form; Fig. 36. of the same; Fig. 8

structed in accordance-with this, invention; Fig. '2 a section of the same on line IIII of Fig. 1 looking in the directions of the arrows; Fig. 3 a bottom plan view of the same. a Fig. 4 is a front elevationof a modified form of sound :boX constructed in ac 2 cordance with this invention; Fig. 5 a secdirections of the arrows; Fig." 6 a fragmenof a portion of thistion on line V V of Fig. 4, looking in the tary side elevation,

7 a hottom plan View 'a front elevation of a modified form of this. invention; and Fig. 9 a perspective of a detail of the same. Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention comprises a casing,

which consists. of an. annular plate 1, of

.metal or any suitable material, having a forwardly projecting perip eral rim 2, and a"rear wardly projecting tublrlar flange. 3 surrounding the central aperture 4 of the plate, the flange 3 beingiadapted for connecting'the sound box to any suitable tubular sound conveyer- The front" or inner surface 5 of the plate or casingliis preferably flat, but may bei'of any desired form, and the inner surface of the rim-2, is pref erablyin the form' of a stepped cylinder in two diameters,the-sinner cylindrical surface" 6-ofthejrim'1being less in diameter than the outerc ylmdrical surface 7 thereof,

and being adapted'to support a diaphragm 8. The' inner surface of the rim may, however, be of .anyfsuitable the inner surface of the body ofth ecasing, a diaphragm chambeniitT-he diaphragm Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 8, 1910.-

as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly'pointed out in tively rigid, and is cured in place tending through the yielding member and parallel to the shape to form, withranged upon the front may be made of any suitable material, and in any suitable fornnfor instance, the dia- Patented Aug. 29, 1911. Serial No. 542,745.

shape, and of substantially the same eX ternal diameter as the diameter of the casingl. The main portion of this vibratory member is preferably flat, and is provided with a central aperture 17 of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the central aperture 4 in the casing, and with a forwardly projecting marginal rim 18. The vibratory'member 16 is compara by means of a yielding member 19 made of tempered spring steel, or of any other suit able resilient material. The ylelding member 19 is preferably in the form of a flat plate, and the rim 1801 the vibratory mem ber 16 and the rim of the casing 1 are flattened externally, as at 20, to form a suitable seat for the yielding member, which is seby means of screws 21 exthreaded into the rim of the vibratory memher and the rim of the casing respectively. The space22 between the vibratory member 16 and the casing 1, is preferably very small and only suflicient to permit of the necessary vibration'sof the vibratory member.- The vibratory member is thus connected to the casing 1 by the yielding member 19, and is free to vibrate with respect to the casing upon an axis extending through the yielding member substantially diaphragm 8 and in alinement with the space 22"between the vibra tory member and the yieldingmember.

The stylus bar 15 may be of any suitable form, and is connected to. or'mounted uponthe vibratory member 16 by any suitable connection or mounting, which may or may not be-' resilient and which is preferably arof the vibratory ''member 16, and diametrically opposite the yielding member 19 which connects the vi secured to the casing 1 phragm may be constructed of metal hav- 'ent connection between bratory member to the casing. One form of mounting which may be used .to connect the stylusbar 15 to the vibratory. member 16, consists. of a flat yielding plate or mem ber 25, madeof tempered spring steel or any suitable material, which is secured at one end to the stylus bar in a slot provide therefor in the bar, and at its e ther end is secured in a slot in a rigid base plate 26, which is rigidly connected to. the vibratory. member 16 by means of screws 27, the space between the stylus bar and the base plate 26 is preferably only sufficie nt topermit of the necessary oscillation of the bar, and the bar is thus mounted upon the yieldlng connection 25 to oscillate in a plane perpendicular to the diaphragm about an axis substantially fixed with respect to the vibratory member 16 and parallelto the axis of .oscillation of the vibratory member. The resilithe stylus bar and the vibratory member 16 is preferablymade thinner and lighter, and consequently much more sensitive than the resilient connection 19 between the vibratory member 16 and the casing 1 of the sound box..

The stylus bar 15 is preferably made of any suitable resilient metal or material, and the inner portion of the stylus bar is tapered and turned outwardly and then inwardlyand downwardly in the form of a com-. pound curve, and the inner end 28 ofthe bar is suitably connected-to the central portion of the diaphragm. The main portion of the stylus bar extends radially with respect to the sound box and the. outer end of the bar is provided with the usual stylus socket for receiving a stylus 29 which is held in position as usual by a thumb screw 30. In the operation of this sound box, the ordinary sound oscillations of the stylus bar are transmitted to the diaphragm through the yieldingof the resilient connection between the bar.and the vibratory member 16, but any unusual shocks or jars are taken up by the yielding of the connection 19 between the vibratory member 16 and the a, sound box casing, and'bythe yielding of the curved inner portion of the stylus bar, and the effects of such shocks or jars on the diaphragm are thus minimized or softened, and

" practically eliminated, which prevents the tur'e sound waves. Upon therear face of the casmg 40 1s secured eby means of screws 43,

defective qualities technically .known as blast or rattle or shatter and other unpleasant qualities which are incident to the operation of some sound boxes under some conditions.

One oi many modifications of this invention comprises as illustrated in Figs." 4 to 8 of the drawings, a sound box consisting of an annular casing 46 havingaforwardly projecting peripheral rim 41 and a central aper- 42 which serves as' usual, to conduct connected to the casing in any suitable 47 and 49 of the vibratory member s pivoted tory member 45 boss ,66 in the rear 0 a tubular extension 44, whereby the sound box may be connected to the usual sound conveying tube., .movably within-the rim 41 -o an annular vibratory member 45, which is ner to oscillate with respect thereto. The connection between the vibratory member 45 and the casing 40 may co sist, as shown in j the drawings, of two rearwardly projecting peripheral lugs 46 and 47 rigid with the vibratory member 45 and projecting in the recess provided therefor in the rim 41 of the casing and rotatably engaged against the inner surfaces of two lugs 48 and 49 respectively, which project outwardly from the rim 41 ofthe casing andare rigid therewith. Pivots 50.and 51 arranged in alinement,'extend between the projeet-ions46 and 48, and casing respectively; whereby thevibratory For holding the vibra a fixed axis.

yieldingly in a predeterf the casing isv man-.

member and the Telescoping snugly but a to the casing upon y mined position upon its pivots with respect to the caslng 40, .a pair of springs, 55 and 56, are provided, one of which is secured at one end by a screw 57 to the lug 48' on the casing, a washer 58 being interposed between the spring and the lug. The other spring, 56, is secured atone end to the lug 49 of the casing by means of a screw 59, a

washer 60 being interposed between the spring and the lug. One of these springs, 55, extends forwardly from the casing and engages a boss 65 arranged in front of the axis of oscillation of the vibratory member 45. upon the lug 46 rigid with the vibratory member and the otherspring 56, extends rearwardly ijrom the casing and engages a of the vibratory member onthe lug 4'7 rigid with the vibratory member. The springs, 55 and 56,,are normally held by their screws 57 and 59, under a tension, and the outer ends of these springs, therefore, normally f the axis of oscillation i prcss upon the boss of the Vibratory member and hold the vibratory member yieldingly under a balanced tensioniil a predetermined position. A stylus bar 70 projects radially from the vibratory member 45 rigid therewith, and is provided with the usual socket for holding. a stylus 71, which is secured in place by the usual thumb screw 72;" The. stylus bar may be arranged between and adjacent the pivots 50 and. determine the axis ofscillation ofthe bar,

51, which form or 'as shown in Figs. 4 to 7, or the bar might be arranged diametrically'opposite to this position, as shown-in Fig."8,or in any other suitable position with respect to the casing. A diaphragm ,73, of any suitable construcm be st 1ar-form and construcjiqn't 'fi fl -tion, is mounted within the vibratory mem; ber 45. This diaphragm 73 and ordinarily the central described, the vibratory member 45 being pro 'fiflGCl with a suitable cylindrical bore 74 adapted to receive the diaphragm andto hold the flanged edge of the diaphragmin a fixed position, and with an inwardly projecting rim 75 upon its inner: edge to position the diaphragm. The central'portion of the diaphragm 73 is yieldingly connected to the casing 40 by any stance, by a still rod 7 6 of steel or any other suitable rigid material, and a spider or.

bridge T'fQijf steel or brass orany other-resilient material, which preferably consists of a central portion 78 and a plurality of arms 7 9 radiating therefrom and spaced apart at equal angles. The rod 76 extends axially of the sound box from the diaphragm 73 rearwardly and at its outer end engages and is secured in any suitable manner to the inner surface of the diaphragm at the center of the diaphragm. The inner end of the rod 7 6 is rigidly secured to the central portion 78 of the spider 77. The spider 77 is preferably normally fiat and so arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rod end of the arms 79 are rigidly connectedto the cylindrical wall of'the opening 4211f? under the maximum vibrations of the diaphragm but will be practically stationary under slight vibrations oi" the diaphragm, and will not yield under any condition as readily as the annular vibratory member 4C5 supporting the diaphragm. With this modified construction in mind, it is evident that in operation, its action' will be similar to the action of the formpreviously described, ortion of the diaphragm will be held su stantially' stationary with respect to the casing 40 by the rod 76 and spider 77, and ordinarily as the stylus bar 70 oscillates, under the action of a sound record, thevi-bratory annular meniber 45 to which the rim of the diaphragm is fixed will be caused to vibrate about its pivots- 50.,and 51, under the restraining influence of the springs 55 and 56, and the diaphragm will thusloecflexed between its rim and its central portion, and the sound'waves will be transmitted through. the out let 42 of the sound box. When, however, .the stylus is subjected to any unusual shocks or jars, the spider '77 will yield su'fliciently to minimizethe effects of such shocks'or jars as in the form hereinbefore described.v

It is obvious that the spider might eonsist of but two radial arms arranged in alinement to form a metrically-of the opening 42 or the spider might be of any other suitable construction to form'a yielding support for the rod 76. I

suitable means, in this in- 6, and substantially in alineinent with the. rear surface of the casing 40. The outerl The dimensions of the-spider bridge extending dia- Although only two forms in which this invention may be embodied have been illustrated, it is obvious that the invention might also be embodied in various other forms Without departing from the spirit of this invention, or the scope of the appendet claims.

Having thus fully described this invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States: 7

1. In 'a sound box, the combination with a casing, of a diaphragnrcarried thereby, a vibratory member resiliently mcunted on said casing, and a stylusbar mounted to oscillate upon said bar being connected to said diaphragm by means of an outwardly curved tapering resilient portion of said bar,

' 2. In a sound box, the cmnbinaiion with a casing, of a diaphragm carried thereby, a"

fixedly secured resilient member, a \ibratory member mounted by means of said member to oscillate on said casing, a stylus bar and ,a fixedly secured resilient member connecting said bar and said vibratory member, said stylus bar being connected through a tapering outwardly curved resilient portion to said diaphragm at a point betweenthe axis of oscillation of said stylus bar with respect to sa d vibrator 1 member,

and theaxis of oscillation of said vibratory member:

.3. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, of a vibratory member mounted by means of a fixedly secured resilient member to oscillate thereon, a diaphragm carried by said casing, and a stylus bar mounted on said vibratory member by means of a second fixedly secured resilient member to oscillate with respect thereto, said stylus bar being connected to the central portion of said diaphragm, and the axis of oscillation of said vibratory member with respect to said ce sing and the axis of oscillation of said stylus bar. with respect to said vibratory member'being upon diametrically opposite sides of the axis of said diaphragm.

4:. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, of a vibratory member, a fixedly.

secured resilient connection between said casing andsaid vibratory member, a stylus bar and a second-fixedly secured .resilicnt connection between said stylus bar and said member forming a support for vibratory said bar.

,5. In a sound box, the combination with a' casing, of a vibratory :member, a fixedly secured resilient connection between said casing and said vibratory member, astylus ,bar' and a second'fixedly secured resilientconnection between said stylus bar and said vibratory member, silient connection being more sensitive than said firstmentioned resilient connection.

6. In a sound box, the combination with ribratory member, said said last mentioned re--' --a casing, of a corrugated diaphragm carried thereby,a vibratory member, a stylus bar, a fixedly secured resilient connection between-said vibratory member and said 5 casing, and a resilient connection between said stylus bar and said vibratpry member, the said second-named resilient connection being less rigid than the first-named o-t' said connections.

'7. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, a concentrically corrugated diaphragm, a vibratory member, a'resilient connection between said vibratory member and said casing, a stylus bar, anda resilient connection between said stylus barand 'said vibratory member. a

8. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, of a concentrically corrugated diaphragm carried thereby, a vibratory member, a resilient connectionbetween' said vibratory member and said casing, a stylus bar connected to said diaphragm, and a resilient connection between said bar and said vibratory member, said bar connected to 25 said diaphragm through a tapering outwardly'curved resilient portion of said bar. 9. The combination of a casing, with a stylus bar, an oscillatory mountingtherefor, 4

said mounting being resiliently secured to said casing and a resilient connection between said bar and said mounting, said connection being fixedly secured to each' of said connected members.

10. In'a sound box, a concentrically corru- 5 gated vibratory sound producing member,

means tor supporting the same, means for supporting a reproducing stylus connected resiliently with said vibratory sound producingmember, and a member connected by 40 a fixedly secured resilient member to said means for supporting the vibratory member and upon which the means for supporting the reproducing stylus is resiliently mounted. 11. In a sound box the combination of a recessed casing with a concentrically corrugated diaphragm mounted therein, an annular vibratory member mounted concentrically with said casing-and having a central aperture therein, a fixedly secured resilientconnection between said casing and said member, a stylus bar mounted adjacent the periphery of said member extending inwardly, thrcn-gh said aperture and removably connected to said diaphragm, and a second fixedly secured resilient connection securing said stylus bar and said vibratory member to a point diametrically opposite said first-named connection.

12. In a sound box, a casing, a concentrically corrugated diaphragm carried thereby, a vibratory member resiliently secured at one side thereof to said casing and having a central aperture therein, and a stylus bar resiliently secured to said vibratory member at a point opposite to the connection between said vibratory member and said casing, said stylus bar extending through said aperture and secured to said diaphragm.

13. 'In a sound box, the combination of a casing, with a vibratory member, a resilient connection fixedly secured to said casing and said member, a stylus bar and a resilient connection fixedly secured tosaid member and said bar. r

14:. In a sound box, the combination of a 7 5 casing, with a. vibratory member, a resilient connection fixedly secured to said casing and said member, a stylus bar and a resilient connection fixedly secured to said member and said bar, said last-mentioned connection being more flexible than the first-named.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of February, A. D. 1910.

JQHN C. ENGLISH.

Witnesses: I

FRANK B. MIDDLETON, Jr., HENRY RoB'r. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C." 

